


LITTLE MODELS 
IN LETTER-WRITING 


BY 

I. M. BALLHEIM 



1919 




Copyright 1919 by 
I, M. BALLHEIM 




Little Models in Letter-Writing 


% 

I. M. Ballheim 



Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen 



INTRODUCTION 


Not with the idea of dictating to experienced teachers who have their own 
methods, but to explain the original intention of this little book, these sugges¬ 
tions are offered. 

The letters are meant to be used in the language and writing classes of the 
fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. They are not at all intended as copies. It is 
hoped that they will help the pupil to express what is in his own mind. Form, 
punctuation, spelling, and grammar should be correct; otherwise, the young 
author should have perfect freedom. 

The greatest stress should be placed on informality. Letter-writing in the 
minds of many grown people even, is like an unfamiliar country, and there is 
a vague sense of the need of a password. 

“How do I begin?” says the novice. “If I could get started with the first 
sentence, I could go on.” 

Very well; omit the first sentence. Begin with the second; begin anywhere. 

Let the child say “I” as often as he wishes. Egotists are the most charming 
letter-writers. 

It is not at all necessary, of course, to take the book in order. The teacher, 
having selected the letter best adapted to her class, or suited to the season, may 
ask the pupils to reproduce its ideas in their own language — allowing them to 
vary the ideas if they wish. If there is one who cannot do this, he should be 
allowed to rewrite the letter as it stands. 

Dictionaries and books of synonyms have to be consulted and must be at 
hand. 

The first draft should be carefully corrected and rewritten — rewritten until 
absolute perfection in grammatical form, spelling, and punctuation has been 
reached. 

Quality, not quantity, is the aim. It may require several lessons — even - weeks 
to perfect a single letter. 

The letter having been hammered into shape in the language class should 
be brought to the writing class, and the final draft made, the writing teacher 
taking her own time to this, requiring as many repetitions as she thinks nec¬ 
essary. 

The penmanship in this book is of the Palmer Method style, photo-engraved 
from the writing of an expert instructor. 

All lines should be sharp and clear-cut, indicating the use of right movement 
and healthful postures. 

It is physically impossible for pupils sitting in cramped attitudes to write 
according to this system, and the health of the child is too important to require 
discussion here. 

These being letters of friendship, nothing has been said about folding, as 
ordinary stationery is supposed to be used. 

A little book of business letters may follow. 


APR 23 1919 


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RULES FOR LETTER-WRITING 

White or cream unruled paper and black ink are always 
correct; colored inks are in very bad taste. 

Marginal Line 

A vertical line drawn one-half inch from the left edge of 
the paper. 

Indention Line 

A line drawn half an inch to the right of the marginal 
line. 

The first line of every paragraph begins on the indention 
line; all other lines begin at the marginal line. 

A vertical line drawn down the middle of the paper shows 
where the date line and complimentary close begin. 

These lines should be drawn and used in the first drafts of 
letters, and seen with the mind’s eye afterwards. 

Parts of a Letter 

Date-line, or heading. 

Salutation. 

Body of letter. 

Complimentary close. 

Signature. 

Date-line 

The date-line, or heading, consists of the name of the 
town and state, the day of the month and the year. Two 
lines may be used if needed. 

Three commas are to be used in every date-line. 

The date-line ought never to be omitted. 


Salutation 


Dear Friend is not a good beginning. Use the name. 

The colon is the proper punctuation for the salutation. 

If dear is the second word in the salutation, begin with a 
small letter. 

Dear Mrs. Adams: 

My dear Father: 

Dear Alice: 

Dear Aunt Mary: 

The use of dear does not imply affection. It is just a 
form. 

Body of the Letter 

The grammar, spelling, and punctuation should be per¬ 
fect. 

Some people write the first page, then the third, going 
back to the second, and then to the fourth. This is for con¬ 
venience in handling the freshly written pages. If you 
have a blotter or can wait for the ink to dry, it is better to 
use the natural order. 

Complimentary Close 

Only one capital letter is used in the complimentary close. 
Punctuate with a comma. 

Sincerely yours, 

Yours sincerely, 

Cordially yours, 

Affectionately yours, 

A letter may end without such forms, but the omission 
makes the ending seem somewhat abrupt. 

The Signature 

Sign yourself as the recipient calls you. For instance, 
sign your Christian name when writing to members of your 
own family. Writing to entire or comparative strangers, 
sign your full name. Never use Miss or Mr. in writing 


your own name. These are titles of respect, given you out 
of politeness. 

An exception is made in the case of a lady who wishes to 
explain whether she is to be addressed as married or single. 

The Superscription 

The envelope carries the superscription. 

Do not abbreviate the name of a state unless it consists of 
more than six letters. It is better not to abbreviate the name 
of any state, as there is danger of confusion where there is 
a similarity in spelling, as in Colorado and California. 

Names of the largest and best known cities may be written 
without the name of the state. 

A return address is very important. The upper left-hand 
corner of the envelope is generally used, but it is quite 
proper to write it along the flap at the back. 

210 Second Avenue is preferred to 210 2d Avenue. The 
latter is not so quickly understood as the figures may run 
together. 

2d and 3d are better than 2nd and 3rd. 

If a letter is sent in the care of someone, it is not necessary 
to write c/o. The name in the lower left-hand corner of 
the envelope is sufficient. 

A ruler laid at an angle of about forty-five degrees should 
touch the first letters of the lines in the superscription. 

Much information may be obtained about international 
regulations from little books given away at the Postoffice. 



SUGGESTIONS 


1 

Write a short letter using real names and dates, asking 
your friend to go to a picnic with you. 

2 

Make believe you have had a very pleasant surprise. 
Write a letter telling about it. 

3 

Pretend your mother is away on a visit. Write a letter 
telling her how you or your sister cooked the dinner. 

4 

Write a make believe letter from Philadelphia telling 
about Independence Hall. 

5 and 6 

Invite your friend to your birthday party, and write the 
answer. 

7 

Write to your friend, telling him the things you think he 
would enjoy in your own town. Ask him to spend vacation 
with you. 

8 

Suppose your grandmother lives in the country. Write 
her a letter saying that you are coming to see her as soon as 
school is out. 

9 

Write to your playmate about your pets and your favorite 
games. 


io and 11 

A letter describing a picnic — one describing a camping 
trip. 

12 

A letter telling how you gave a show, or sold flowers for 
the Red Cross. 

. I3 

A letter telling about a trip to a city. 

H 

A letter about a little baby—a relative or a neighbor. 


15 

A letter about the school work you like best. 

16 

A letter about a recital in which you took part, or which 
you attended. 

17 

Describe a visit to some public building—as, the Home 
for the Friendless, Home for Aged Women, or a hospital. 

18 


Suppose your father is away. Write and ask if you may 
buy some rabbits, or banties. 


19 

A visit to a soldier’s camp or a hospital. 


20 


A vacation letter from the country, 
try school house. 

21 

A journey by rail or by water. 


Describe the coun- 


22 

Tell about a company of soldiers leaving town or return¬ 
ing—the parade, the band, the flags and uniforms. 


23 . 

Describe your thrift garden — what you raised, and what 
you did with it. 


24 

Write a letter telling how you earned money picking 
blackberries. 


25 

Write a letter thanking your aunt for a present of a book. 


26 

Write a letter telling of some Christmas presents you have 
begun to make. 


















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